Newly formed Carluke team played for Scotland!

Helen McCall

Pupils from Carluke High School went along to a basketball competition - and found themselves playing for Scotland.

The Carluke teenagers, playing together for the first time, won the Scottish Inclusive Zone Basketball competition, then became the first Scottish team to compete in the British finals.

And although they did not win, they held their own against teams which had been competing regularly.

Rachael Tonnar (16), Morgan Hazelwood (17) Rochelle Maclean (16), and wheelchair users David Hird (15) and Cameron Watson (14) now hope others will take up the sport and that it will grow in popularity.

Cameron’s mother had asked the school if a team could be put together for an event in Bathgate and, as Rachael and Rochelle had played basketball, they went along with the boys - who have represented Scotland at basketball - and played through the different levels.

“That qualified us to go to the British championships, and we went representing Carluke and Scotland, the first time Scotland has ever been there,” said Rachael.

Morgan joined them in the team for the championship.

The game, which has an inner zone for those in wheelchairs. is already strong in England, and the Carluke team realised while playing that they did not even know all the rules! But they did well, and were very narrowly beaten by the team which ultimately took the gold.